Antoine Frisch: 'Every year Munster Rugby against Leinster is massive'

MUNSTER Rugby centre Antoine Frisch says it will be really special to be part of their mammoth St Stephen's Day United Rugby Championship derby meeting with Leinster at Thomond Park, 7.35pm, live on TG4, Premier Sports.

Twenty six-year-old Frisch has impressed for Munster since joining the province on a three-year contract from the Bristol Bears last summer.

Irish-qualified Frisch will make his seventh appearance for Munster Rugby when lining out at outside centre against high-flying Leinster in Limerick on Monday.

Frisch, although born in France, has family roots in Tallaght.

Looking ahead to Monday's big derby fixture with Leinster, Frisch said: "Yeah obviously it's huge, every year it's massive and I just remember when I was younger, watching those games, huge rivalry between the two and Munster were winning and Leinster sort of took the upper hand, so yeah it will be a big game at home and obviously it's just a huge classic in the rugby world.

"So if I'm a part of it, it will be really special for me. I've always dreamt of playing in games like that, it's why I came here."

During his career to date Frisch has played rugby in three countries, following on from his time with PRO D2 side Rouen Normandie by moving to Bristol in the English Premiership and now onto Munster Rugby.

Centre Frisch believes he has benefitted from playing different styles of rugby in different competitions to date.

"Yeah, I've seen different styles and it has helped me to have a better understanding of what a team needs and just playing in the right areas of the field.

"For example at Bristol there was a big emphasis on holding the ball and putting teams under pressure through your shape and your attack, and I improved massively from that point of view last year.

"So it definitely gives me a better knowledge of rugby and understanding what a team needs, I'm just using my ability to bring that to the team and it's good, it's definitely a plus in my game."

Frisch has ambitions of playing for Ireland and toured with the Emerging Ireland squad to South Africa in the autumn, when he made two appearances against Currie Cup sides. 

The interprovincials which take place over the Festive period allow players an opportunity to impress the Ireland coaching team ahead of the 2023 Six Nations Championship.

"We know that we're watched every week, every player, and you're compared every week," Frisch added. 

"I'm not shying away from the fact that I came here with ambitions to try and play for Ireland, so yeah, it's huge. But you've got to focus on the team and the process and doing the job for the team.

"So it's really simple, just go out there and perform as best as you can and I think if you do that then the rest takes care of itself.

"It's in the back of your mind but you don't think about it too much at the moment. Looking forward to it anyways."